Austria uncovers Hamas-linked weapons cache, Europe probes plot targeting Jewish institutions

Austria’s intelligence agency has uncovered a Hamas-linked weapons cache in the capital, Vienna, the government announced on Thursday. Authorities believe the cache was intended for “possible terrorist attacks in Europe.” It included five handguns and 10 magazines.

Meanwhile, authorities in London arrested a 39-year-old British citizen, reportedly "having close ties to the weapons cache," the Austrian Interior Ministry revealed.

"According to the current state of the investigation, Israeli or Jewish institutions in Europe were likely to be the targets of these attacks," the Austrian Interior Ministry stated.

Austria’s Directorate for State Security and Intelligence Service (DSN), which has been coordinating an international investigation, has assessed that the suspect and the weapons cache are part of a global terrorist organization with ties to Hamas.  

The Austrian ministry revealed that the investigation has led to "suspicion that a group has brought weapons into Austria to use in possible terrorist attacks in Europe."

The Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner praised the international cooperation against extremism and terrorism.

"The current case shows once again that the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence has an excellent international network and takes consistent action against all forms of extremism," Karner said.

"The mission is clear: zero tolerance for terrorists," he added.

On Thursday, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office identified the suspect as Mohammed A, who had been arrested in October for planning terrorist attacks against Jewish or Israeli targets.

"On these occasions, Mohammed A. took over five handguns and ammunition from Abed Al G. He then transported the weapons to Austria and stored them in Vienna," the German federal prosecutor’s office stated. "These actions served to prepare terrorist attacks on Israeli or Jewish facilities in Germany."

It added that "after his extradition from Great Britain,” the Federal Court in Germany will investigate the terrorist suspect.

Last month, German authorities arrested three suspected Hamas terrorists who reportedly planned a large-scale terrorist attack. Two of the suspects are German citizens, while the third is a stateless individual from Lebanon. Berlin police uncovered an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition believed to belong to the three suspects.

Hamas, which is known to maintain a wide international network, denied that the three suspects had any links to the organization.

“The claim that the detainees have links to Hamas is without any foundation and aims to besmirch the movement's reputation and undermine the German people's sympathy for our Palestinian people. We wish to limit the 'fight against the Zionist occupation' exclusively to Palestine,” Hamas stated.

The Iranian regime, which sponsors the Hamas terror group, has increased its support for its proxy attacks against Jews, Israelis, and dissidents in the West since the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israeli communities bordering Gaza.

In August, 14 Western governments, including the United States, jointly condemned Iran for sponsoring assassinations and kidnapping attempts worldwide.

“We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty,” the Western nations said in a joint statement. Austria, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands were among the Western countries that joined the condemnation of Iran.